Drug Classes or they are often referred to as Drug Education classes are often taken for those who need to take a class to fulfill a requirement for drug use or being in possession of a controlled substance. Other reasons these classes are taken is to gain a better understanding of the risks and consequences associated with drug abuse. The topic of better understanding drug (and alcohol use) is often overlooked until there is a problem. This is one of the key flaws in both our judicial system and educational systems on the whole. If prevention were to become mandatory, we might avoid, or at the very least, seriously reduce the number of deaths and accidents related to drug use each year.
Here are some staggering facts to consider about drug "accidents". Between 1990 and 2003 there were over 113,000 drug related deaths, with overdoses as one of the main causes. When asked what the most popular form of accidental deaths caused from drugs, the answer not surprisingly was opiates. Also not surprising were most accidental deaths were men between the ages of 20 and 40 years old. The good news is that drug related deaths for those under 25 has steadily been declining since 1996. Opiate users who inject are 20 times more likely to overdose than the general population. Other drugs such as barbiturates, benzo's and others still rank high as one of the main causes of overdose.
It is interesting to note that both Washington DC and New York city rank as two of the highest population cities per capita of drug overdose. Rather than wait to be a statistic, would it be prudent to get a better understanding of how drugs effect our bodies, minds, and behaviors? Whether you have a requirement for taking a drug class or even an alcohol awareness class, considering taking those programs before it's too late. Not just with the legal system, but also with your own life.